Future is bright for early breast cancer detection device

RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) - Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. One local company is determined to get their cutting edge technology on the market to help early screening.

"Where we were five or six years ago compared to where we are today, you would hardly recognize us. We still have some things to do, but we know what they are, we know who we're going to do them with and we know how much it's going to cost and how much time it's going to take," FWS COB/CFO Jim Holmes says.

First Warning Systems, Inc. uses cutting edge technology in a device that tests for very early signs of breast cancer. According to FWS three preliminary clinical studies in more than 650 women showed an average accuracy of 92.1% (percentage of correct classification), an average sensitivity of 94.7% (true positive cases), and an average specificity of 91.1% (true negative cases).

"There is no cure for breast cancer the only way you can thwart breast cancer is to get an earlier diagnosis," FWS CEO Rob Royea says.

The FWS Circadian Biometric Recorder is inserted into a bra and then for two to 12 hours records thermodynamic metabolic data. The data is then sent to a global library where the data is ingested and results are given to the patient's physician. Royea tells News 4 the information stored in the library would create a global cancer library no ones seen before.

What FWS is embarking on could change preventative care forever. Holmes and Royea agree that there product will especially help younger women and dense breasted women. Early detection they say is key to saving lives.

"There is no cure for breast cancer the only way you can thwart breast cancer is to get an earlier diagnosis," Royea says.

FWS tells News 4 they play to do a multi-site trial where they will test prototypes at Ohio State and the bay area sometime in August or September. They say the goal is to have a commercial product available in the U.S. by the first quarter of 2015. They do plan to have a product out sooner overseas. Royea also tells News 4 they plan to keep the product affordable, ideally, in the upper $20 range.